Vienna in a global context

Vienna ranks among the top in many international studies and rankings and regularly receives awards.

In important international city rankings on liveability, Vienna is at the top:

• Vienna named the world's most liveable city - The Economist
• Mercer study 2024 confirms top quality of life in Vienna
• Vienna has won Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2020

City comparisons, studies and awards - overview

Ranking	Title	Year	Language
1 of 173	The Global Liveability Index - Economist	2024	English
2 of 19	Best public transport - Time Out Magazine	2025	English
2 of 241	Quality of living city ranking - Mercer	2024	English
1	EU Access City Award 2025	2024	English
1	European Capital of Democracy	2023	English
1	EU Organic Award	2023	English
2	Quality of Life Survey - Monocle	2024	English
1	Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2020	2022	English
1	Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation	2020	English
1 of 10	"World's 10 Greenest Cities 2020"	2020	English
1	Netexplo Smart Cities 2020 Prize - UNESCO	2020	English
1 of 153	Smart City Index - Roland Berger	2019	English
1 of 25	Best Cities For Startups - PeoplePerHour	2019	English
2 (Category: Middleweight)	Cities of Choice - Boston Consulting Group	2023	English
2	European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital)	2020	English
2 of 113	Prosperity and Inclusive City Seal and Award (PICSA)	2019	English
2 of 50	Anholt-Ipsos City Brand Index: Place	2022	English
2 of 100	Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2024: People Ranking	2024	English
4 of 150	QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Performing Arts	2025	English
7 of 25	Europe's greenest capital cities - Compare the market	2020	English
8 of 100	2025 EUROPE'S BEST CITIES - Resonance	2025	Englisch
9 of 150	Global 150 Cities Index	2020	English
11 of 59	Schroders European Sustainable Cities Index	2021	English
15 of 48	Global Power City Index 2024 - Mori Foundation	2024	English
14 von 150	QS Best Student Cities 2025	2024	English
Overall Attractiveness: 5 of 150 Lifestyle Rank: 10 of 150 Financial Rank: 32 of 150	Global 150 Cities Index - AIRINC	2025	English
17 of 500	Innovation Cities - 2thinknow	2022 to 2023	English
18 of 100	WORLD'S BEST CITIES 2025 - Resonance	2025	English
27 of 156	Global Cities Report - A.T. Kearney 2024	2024	English

What makes Vienna successful?

Quality of life and reputation

• Affordable housing
• Access to healthcare system and education
• Infrastructure: water supply, waste management, electricity supply
• Dense and affordable public transport network
• General safety and security
• Political stability
• Social stability

Business and innovation

Vienna is smart, sustainable and innovative. The city is one of the most attractive locations worldwide for employees and businesses.

Culture and tourism

Locals and guests love Vienna’s rich cultural heritage, magnificent architecture and wealth of activities.

Science and universities

Austria's capital is one of the major centres of knowledge in the world. Next to Berlin, it is the largest university city in the German-speaking region.